Tobacco smoking is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a cause of laryngeal cancer.[1] An estimated 79% of laryngeal cancers in the UK are linked to tobacco smoking.[2]

Laryngeal cancer risk is 8.3 times higher in people who have ever smoked cigarettes compared with those who have never done so, a pooled analysis of case-control studies showed.[3] Head and neck (including oral cavity, pharynx, hypopharynx, oropharynx, and larynx) cancer risk increases with amount and duration of cigarette smoking.[3]

Laryngeal cancer risk is substantially higher in people who both smoke tobacco and drink alcohol, meta- and pooled analyses show; the effect of these two behaviours together is greater than the sum of their individual effects.[4,5]

Tobacco-associated laryngeal cancer risk may vary with specific site of cancer within the larynx, with a stronger association for supraglottis than glottis cancers.[6]

Laryngeal cancer risk among people who have never smoked cigarettes is higher in those who have ever smoked cigars or a pipe, compared with never-users of these products.[7]

Laryngeal cancer risk in ex-smokers compared with continuing smokers is 30% lower after 1-4 years of non-smoking, and 64% lower after 10-19 years, a pooled analysis of case-control studies showed.[1] Laryngeal cancer risk is higher in ex-smokers than never-smokers for up to 20 years after smoking cessation.[1]

Environmental tobacco smoke is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a probable cause of laryngeal cancer, based on limited evidence.[1]

Laryngeal cancer risk may only be higher in people exposed to environmental tobacco smoke for many years, case-control studies have shown; evidence is limited by small numbers of laryngeal cancer cases in never-smokers.[2-4]

Alcoholic drinks are classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) as a cause of laryngeal cancer.[1] An estimated 25% (27% in males, 12% in females) of laryngeal cancers in the UK are linked to alcohol.[2]

Laryngeal cancer risk is 2.5 times higher in people who drink around 6 units or more of alcohol per day, compared with non-drinkers/occasional drinkers, a meta-analysis showed.[3] Laryngeal cancer risk is 50% higher in people who drink around 1.5-6 units of alcohol per day, compared with non-drinkers/occasional drinkers.[3] Laryngeal cancer risk is not associated with drinking less than around 1.5 units of alcohol per day,[4] but beyond this level, risk increases with higher alcohol intake.[3]

Alcohol-associated laryngeal cancer risk may vary with specific site of cancer within the larynx, with a stronger association for supraglottis than glottis cancers.[5]

Laryngeal cancer risk in ex-drinkers compared with continuing drinkers decreases by 2% per year of non-drinking, a meta-analysis showed.[6] Laryngeal cancer risk is higher in ex-drinkers than never-drinkers for around 35 years after drinking cessation.[6]

Drinking hot maté is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a probable cause of laryngeal cancer, based on limited evidence; it is classified by the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR as a possible cause of laryngeal cancer, based on limited-suggestive evidence.[1,2]

Laryngeal cancer risk may only be associated with drinking maté in large amounts,[3,4] and/or at high temperatures,[4] case-control studies have shown.

Laryngeal cancer risk is 36% higher among people with the highest processed meat intake versus those with the lowest, a pooled analysis of case-control studies showed.[1] Laryngeal cancer risk is not associated with red or white meat intake.[1] Laryngeal cancer risk may vary with type of processed meat, a case-control study indicates.[2] Laryngeal cancer risk is higher in people with the highest fat intake versus those with the lowest, a pooled analysis of case-control studies showed.[3]

Laryngeal cancer develops in 14% of people with laryngeal dysplasia, on average around 6 years after dysplasia diagnosis, a meta-analysis showed.[1] Laryngeal cancer risk among people with laryngeal dysplasia is higher in those with more severe dysplasia.[1]

Human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a probable cause of laryngeal cancer, based on limited evidence.[1] An estimated 11% of laryngeal cancers in the UK are linked to HPV infection.[2,3]

Laryngeal cancer risk is 6.1 times higher in head and neck cancer (non-larynx) survivors, a pooled analysis of cancer registry data showed.[1] Laryngeal cancer risk is higher in survivors of several other cancer types including lung, oesophageal, bladder, and cervical squamous cell carcinoma.[2-5]

This may reflect shared risk factors, e.g. tobacco, alcohol and Human papillomavirus (HPV). Oral cavity, pharynx and larynx cancer risk among survivors of upper aerodigestive tract cancer is 2.2 times higher in those with the highest alcohol intake versus those with the lowest, a meta-analysis showed.[6]

Laryngeal cancer risk is 2.1 times higher in people with a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, child) who has/had head and neck cancer, a pooled analysis of case-control studies showed.[1] Laryngeal cancer risk is 27% higher in people with a first-degree relative who has/had a non-head and neck smoking-related cancer.[1]

Strong inorganic acid mists and asbestos are classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as causes of laryngeal cancer; working in rubber production and sulphur mustard (mustard gas) are classified by IARC as probable causes of laryngeal cancer, based on limited evidence.[1] An estimated 3% of laryngeal cancers in the UK are linked to occupational exposures.[2]

An estimated 0.4% of laryngeal cancers in Great Britain are linked to occupational asbestos exposure.[1] Laryngeal cancer risk is 38% higher in people with high levels of occupational asbestos exposure, compared with unexposed people, a meta-analysis of case-control studies showed.[1]

An estimated 0.1% of laryngeal cancers in Great Britain are linked to working in the rubber production industry.[1] Laryngeal cancer risk may be 39% higher in rubber industry workers compared with the general population, a meta-analysis showed.[2]

Consumption of non-starchy vegetables, fruits, and foods containing carotenoids is classified by the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) as probably protective against mouth, pharynx and larynx cancer, based on limited evidence.[1] An estimated 45% of laryngeal cancers in the UK are linked to people eating fewer than 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day.[2]

Laryngeal cancer risk is 45% lower among people with the highest vegetable intake versus those with the lowest, a pooled analysis of case-control studies showed.[3] Laryngeal cancer risk is not associated with vegetable intake in cohort studies.[4,5]

Laryngeal cancer risk is 41% lower among people with the highest fruit intake versus those with the lowest, a pooled analysis of case-control studies showed.[3] Laryngeal cancer risk is not associated with total fruit intake in cohort studies,[4,5] though risk may be lower in those with the highest citrus fruit intake.[4]

Laryngeal cancer risk is lower in people who are overweight or obese (body mass index [BMI] 25+) compared with those who are a healthy weight (BMI 18.5-25), a pooled analysis of case-control studies showed; however this may be limited to tobacco or alcohol users, and reverse causality (weight loss caused by early symptoms of cancer) is possible.[1] Laryngeal cancer risk is lower in people with lower levels of recreational physical activity, a pooled analysis of case-control studies showed.[2]

Laryngeal cancer risk among males is 21% lower in those with Parkinson’s disease versus those without the condition, a cohort study showed.[1] Laryngeal cancer risk among women is not associated with Parkinson’s disease, a cohort study showed.[1]

This may reflect lower smoking rates in people with Parkinson’s disease.[1]

Share this page

Follow us

Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666) and the Isle of Man (1103). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: Angel Building, 407 St John Street, London EC1V 4AD.